Congress expands pollinator program, opens grants to nonprofits

What it does

This bill amends the federal pollinator-friendly roadside program to expand which organizations can participate and receive funding. It adds nonprofit organizations (501(c)(3) entities) as eligible participants alongside states, tribes, and federal agencies; increases the maximum grant size from $150,000 to $500,000; and raises annual program funding from $2 million to $5 million for fiscal years 2026–2031. It also clarifies consultation requirements with tribes and the Fish and Wildlife Service.

Why we flagged it

The bill's sole function is to expand and increase funding for an existing federal pollinator conservation program on public roadsides. It is a straightforward reauthorization with modest scope expansion.

What the text implies

• Nonprofit participation may shift implementation from state DOTs to conservation organizations, potentially accelerating habitat restoration but also creating coordination challenges.
• The $500,000 grant cap and $5M annual budget (up from $2M) may attract larger environmental nonprofits, concentrating program benefits among well-resourced organizations.
• Clarification that consultation with tribes within 50 miles (not all 'affected or interested' tribes) may reduce consultation burden but could exclude tribes with historical or cultural ties to specific roadsides.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

The bill expands access to a conservation program that improves pollinator habitat on public land, benefiting ecosystems and food security. Nonprofits can now participate alongside government agencies, potentially increasing local engagement and implementation capacity. Higher funding and grant caps enable larger, more impactful projects.

Who stands to gain

• nonprofit conservation organizations (501(c)(3) entities)
• state departments of transportation
• federally recognized Indian tribes
• federal land management agencies

Named in the bill

U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Secretary of the Interior, State departments of transportation, Federally recognized Indian tribes, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, Federal land management agencies

Where it stands

6 cosponsors: 5 Democrats, 1 Republicans.

• Jan 16, 2026 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• Jan 16, 2026 — Referred to House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure · Congress.gov: “Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.

Money around this bill

1 lobbying clients named this bill on 1 disclosure filings across 1 quarter, Jun 2026 to Jun 2026. Those filings disclosed $303,370 in lobbying spend. A filing names 61 bills on average, so that figure is what each filing reported, not a share belonging to this bill.

More lobbying clients named this bill than 0% of bills with at least one filing.

Jimmy Panetta, the sponsor, reported $1,658,056 in PAC receipts in the 2026 cycle.

• American Society of Civil Engineers — $303,370 on 1 filing

Lobbying Disclosure Act filings through Jul 17, 2026. A filing shows who paid to lobby on a bill it names, not what changed.